Xavi Espart names Barcelona player who impresses him most: ‘Best attacking abilities’

Xavi Espart names Barcelona player who impresses him most: ‘Best attacking abilities’ Xavi Espart has barely had time to process his own rise at Barcelona. The 19-year-old entered the summer as a promising La Masia player and emerged from pre-season as a genuine first-team option .  He has since started Barcelona’s first five La Liga matches, with Hansi Flick trusting him at left-back despite Espart being right-footed and originally developing as a midfielder. During an interview with TVE (h/t Mundo Deportivo ), Espart says that he is not taking the opportunity for granted. “Pre-season went very well and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in the first team and to play. “I’m really enjoying it, I’ve prepared myself to be there and I hope I can play many more minutes,” he began. Notably, Espart’s versatility has been one of the defining features of the breakthrough.  Xavi Espart is quite impressed with Joao Cancelo. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The young Spaniard can operate on either side of the defence and also move into midfield, something Barcelona have already used to their advantage.  Espart has a clear footballing reference That background makes Espart’s choice of favourite particularly interesting. When asked which player currently impresses him most with his style, he pointed towards a defender whose attacking game and versatility has long stood out. “Joao Cancelo is someone I’ve always seen as having some of the best attacking abilities in football.” Cancelo’s ability to influence matches from both full-back positions and move into more advanced areas naturally fits the kind of versatility Espart is developing himself.  Espart’s own development has followed a similarly flexible path. He was formed as a midfielder at La Masia before increasingly operating as a full-back, and his current run under Flick has accelerated that transition.  Espart reveals the people closest to him at Barça Away from his own position, Espart’s answers offered a glimpse into the environment around him as he settles into first-team life. Espart considers Messi and Xavi as his idols. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) His childhood idols remain “Messi and Xavi Hernandez” , while Pedri is the player who has impressed him most in Barcelona training sessions. He also singled out tennis icon Rafael Nadal away from football. Within the dressing room, the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal are his closest friends, while former winger Jan Virgili holds that role with the Spain Under-21 side. “Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal, and in the Under-21s, Jan Virgili too.” His assessment of Flick was equally straightforward. He says the Barcelona manager is “approachable and demanding.” Furthermore, for Espart, his dream with Barcelona is “the Champions League” , while with Spain he wants “the European Championship and the World Cup, as well as the European Championship with the Under-21s,” he concluded.